Georgia Governor Nathan Deal gave the keynote address at the Governor’s Public Safety Awards (GPSA) ceremony held on Thursday, December 12 at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center (GPSTC) in Forsyth. Twenty-three outstanding public safety professionals, including Mike Patterson of the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office, were recognized for acts of heroism and seven were commended for contributions to their profession. The recipients were given medallions and their names were added to the GPSA monument located inside the GPSTC.

“It is my privilege to recognize our brave law enforcement officers and emergency responders for their selfless commitment to Georgia’s public safety,” Deal said. “These heroes risk their lives every day to make our state a safer place. For this am thankful.”
The annual GPSA program began in 1998 to recognize public safety officers who go above and beyond the call of duty to protect citizens and make significant contributions to the public safety profession at large.
“We are honored to have the opportunity to pay tribute to Georgia’s public safety professionals who risk their lives daily and sacrifice time away from their families to protect the community, said Timothy J. Bearden, GPSTC Director.
The GPSA program recognizes public safety professionals in the following two categories: act of heroism which recognizes those who within the previous year performed an exceptional deed that resulted in saving lives and/or protecting property; and outstanding contribution which enhanced the profession for job performance that had an overwhelming positive effect on the overall profession.
Personnel from each discipline of public safety as well as state employees with public safety authority are eligible to receive the award. This year, nominations were submitted by local governments, state agencies, associations, police departments, sheriff’s offices, correctional facilities, fire departments, 911 communication offices, emergency medical services, emergency management agencies and private citizens.

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